weightlessness

weight·less·ness

(wāt'les-nĕs),

The psychophysiologic effect of zero gravity, as experienced by someone falling freely in a vacuum (for example, astronauts in a stable orbit). A temporary state of simulated weightlessness can be achieved during powered flight within the earth's atmosphere by traversing an inverted parabolic curve where gravitational pull and centrifugal force cancel each other out.

weightlessness

Etymology: AS, gewiht + ME, les

a state of absence of apparent weight, as in being beyond the effects of gravitational force in space travel. See also space medicine.

A state in which there is no gravitational effect on a body or materialPhysiologic effects Bone mineral loss, altered blood chemistries, weakened immune system, variable heart rate, arrhythmias, loss of skeletal and cardiac muscle mass and strength, increased urinary loss of nitrogen and phosphorus, motion sickness, and redistribution of fluids that are normally pooled in the lower torso and legs, resulting in a ‘fat face’

weightlessness

in horses induces osteoporosis if the period of weightlessness is long enough; in dogs the effects of weightlessness are confused with those of head-out immersion in water.

The study area was characterised by one gravity anomaly in the south characterised by having a long wavelength and high anomaly expression in the north Low gravity anomaly expression was associated with granite intrusions while high gravity anomaly expression was associated with basement outcrop.

The Mojave field test included three investigations: 1) a study of whether conventional field tools commonly used to characterize the mechanical properties of soils on Earth are suitable for small bodies; 2) an evaluation of how different anchoring systems might allow robotic spacecraft and astronauts to remain bound to a low gravity body; 3) a study of how astronauts might conduct geological sampling on a small body while using anchors and tethers.

A new research report has claimed to solve the biological mystery of how this happens by showing that low gravity compromises the ability of arteries and veins to constrict normally, inhibiting the proper flow of blood.

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